Calif. church depicts Black Lives Matter protest in Nativity scene [Los Angeles Times :: BC-RELIG-NATIVITY-BLACKLIVESMATTER:LA]
According to the Bible, Jesus’ birth was a crowded affair Mary and Joseph, a menagerie of animals and some shepherd visitors. But protesters?
Claremont United Methodist Church, in keeping with its tradition of eye-catching Nativity scenes, situated the Holy Family this year in front of a painting of masked people holding signs reading “I can’t breathe!” and “Black Lives Matter,” alongside Bible verses and other quotes.
“We couldn’t think of any other issue that we wanted to keep under the light of the Bethlehem star than the need to address racism,” said the Rev. Karen Clark Ristine, the church’s senior minister.
Claremont church nativity scene highlights push for racial equality, creating peace
Genaro Cordova painted the nativity scene, as he does every year.
CLAREMONT, Calif. - Neighbors and residents across Southern California stop by a Claremont church to check out its eye-catching nativity scene, which highlights some of the most important issues going on during the year.
As of Tuesday, the nativity scene at Claremont United Methodist Church is highlighting racial injustice. Surrounding Jesus birth are masked Black Lives Matter protester holding signs like I can t breathe and above the protesters are names of people killed this year.
For neighbors, the nativity scene gives them relief knowing that they are being valued and understood by the community.
California church creates Black Lives Matter Nativity display
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California church creates Black Lives Matter Nativity display
California church creates Black Lives Matter Nativity display
Claremont United Methodist Church of Claremont, California, erected a Black Lives Matter-themed Nativity display for Christmas 2020. | Facebook/Karen Clark Ristine
A theologically progressive congregation in California erected a nativity display that centered on the message of Black Lives Matter and included the names of African Americans who were killed.
Claremont United Methodist Church recently created the display, which features the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in front of a wall of BLM demonstrators holding protest signs.
Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) | Dec 16, 2020 | News | 39
A Nativity scene at a Los Angeles church shows Mary standing with Black Lives Matter protesters holding signs that read “Jesus Wept” and “I Can’t Breathe,” video shows.
“We don’t just see Christmas as strictly a sentimental thing,” said Pam Bunce of Claremont United Methodist Church, The Daily Bulletin reported. “We see it as what Jesus came to do and that’s to stand with the people who are marginalized.”
The church has a history of provocative Nativity scenes. In 2019, it locked Jesus, Mary and Joseph in cages to call attention to immigration reform, KABC reported.
The display at Claremont United Methodist Church was unveiled December 6
Rev. Karen Clark Ristine said they couldn’t think of any other issue they wanted to keep under the light of the Bethlehem star than the need to address racism
The scene shows Mary with her arms in the air mirroring demonstrators, Jesus in his crib while Joseph tends to him in front of a mural of BLM protesters
A list of black men and women killed includes Emmett Till, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd; a sign above the nativity scene reads: Say their names
The church last year created a nativity scene that depicts baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph as a family caged and separated the US-Mexico border